Galveston’s carb lovers are getting a new pit stop on 61st Street this spring, as Bagel Co. Express, a compact, fast-service offshoot of Galveston Bagel Company, gets ready to roll out. The smaller-format shop is set to fill a CJF Properties storefront on 61st Street and, if permits stay on track, begin construction in February with a projected late April finish. Owners are billing the new spot as a grab-and-go take on the island counter and say it is the first of several units they want to plant across Greater Houston.
Permit Locks In Address And Spring Push
A public registration with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation lists the project as “Express Bagel” at 2724 61st St and pegs a Feb. 20 start date with an April 30 completion target. The filing lays out a roughly 1,000-square-foot interior renovation with new walls and a service counter and puts the estimated cost at $120,000, a setup that points to a small-format, quick-service footprint, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Owner Talks Slimmer Setup And Expansion Plans
Dillan Mena, the Galveston Bagel Company co-owner listed as the tenant on the registration, told What Now Houston that Bagel Co. Express will operate as a smaller version of the flagship and serve as the first of multiple planned locations in the Greater Houston area. At the time of that report, Mena had not released a full menu, but the concept was framed as a faster, condensed offering compared with the island counter.
Flagship Menu Hints At Express Lineup
The flagship’s menu currently features items such as a lox bagel, large breakfast burritos, and island-themed sandwiches, offerings the owners say they expect to pare back into a tighter grab-and-go lineup for the Express concept. The Menas previously shifted from running a food truck to a full brick-and-mortar space and have since added adjacent counters, including MAC-IES Smashburgers and a chicken concept, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Compact Buildout Points To Counter Service
The TDLR registration names Nomos Engineering as the design firm and specifically cites construction of interior walls and a service counter, details that line up with a compact counter-service buildout. The modest square footage and focus on the front counter suggest a format tuned for short lines and pickup rather than full dine-in service, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Opening Aims To Catch Island’s Busy Season
If the permit timeline holds, construction is scheduled to begin this February and wrap by late April, which would put the opening in spring and in time for Galveston’s busy visitor season. Once the doors open, Bagel Co. Express is set to add another quick breakfast and pickup option along 61st Street as the island heads into its spring tourism months, a context reflected in local listings and coverage from Visit Galveston.
